Prefabricated wall assembly for partitions and the like



PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 K. MOOR Nov. 10, 1970 '12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

k A H I I 1 won Attorney Nov. 10, 1970 K. MOOR L 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flg. 9

, INyENTOR.

KARL l lOvR Attorney Nov. 10, 1970 K. MOOR 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR.

KARL HOUR Attorney NOV. 10, 1970 K MOOR 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR.

KARL MOOR Attorney Nov. 10, 1970 K. MOOR 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 12 Sheets-Shet 5 Fig.22

.' INVENTOR.

Attorney Nov. 10, 1970 l K. MOOR 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,.1967 12 Sheets-Sheet e 3 g1 I QQQQ J D L26 F|g. 25

Attorney Nov. 10,1970 K. MOOR 3,538,660

PREFAB RICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 12 Sheets-Sheet v INVENTOR.

hARL HOUR Attorne Nwm, 1970 K. MOOR -3,5 ,6 0

- PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed-Nov. 27,1967 12 Sheets-Sheet a Fig.36 F|g.35 F1934" I L I 71 Fug.

INVENTOR.

KARL HOUR Attorney K. MooR Nov. 10, 1910 PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FORPARTITIONS AND THE LIKE I 12' Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 27, 1967 6,".INVENTOR.

KARL HOUR a 5RD o Attorney Nuv. 10, 1970 3,538,660

PREFABRICAI'ED WALL ASSEMBLY FORIPARTITIONS AND THE LIKE.

K. MOOR l2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 Filed Nov. .27, 1967 INVENTOR.

KARL HUUR v (-R w Attorney Nov. 10, 1970 K. MOOR 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 27,1967 l2 Sheets-Sheet "l1 Fug.

l N VEN TOR.

KARL MOO- R B Y Ros ix 6 Attorney Nov. 10, '1'91o' K, Mog 3,538,660

PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov; 27,1967 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 c so so I 4- so I I 80 21 52 INVENTOR.

KARL ['JUOH BY R9 W Attorney United States Patent ()ce 3,538,660PREFABRICATED WALL ASSEMBLY FOR PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Karl Moor,Dupourstrasse 818008, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Nov. 27, 1967, Ser. No.685,811 Int. Cl. E04b 2/46; E04c 2/52 US. Cl. 52-242 23 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE My present invention relates to a wall assemblyadapted to be used in partitioning a room, the term partition being hereused to designate any wall-like structure not intended to support aceiling or other substantial loads.

The general object of my invention is to provide an assembly of thisdescription which can be used in the erection of partitions of variousdimensions from prefabricated wall elements of standard and, therefore,massproducible design.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide simple means forattaching such partitions to one another, and/or to posts designed tosupport door or window frames, as well as to the floor and the ceilingof the room.

It is also an object of my invention to provide means for prefabricatingthe aforementioned standard wall elements.

A wall assembly according to my invention comprises, generally, one ormore prefabricated wall elements each having a plurality of preferablyequispaced vertical channels of generally rectangular cross-section, themajor sides of the rectangle being parallel to the broad surfaces of therespective wall element. Through these channels pass respectiveweb-shaped connectors whose projecting upper and lower ends are receivedin horizontal grooves of base and top moldings by which the partition isthus attached to the floor and the ceiling.

Advantageously, according to a more specific feature of my invention,the webs are subdivided into a main body and an adjustable upwardextension engaging the top molding, this adjustability allowing for useof the same basic elements in rooms of different height.

The above and other features of my invention will become more fullyapparent from the following detailed description, reference being madeto the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a Wall element according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view of the wallelement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the same wall element;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modification;

FIGS. 5-8 are views generally similar to FIG. 2, show ing furthermodifications;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracket adapted to be used with thewall elements of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating, somewhat Patented Nov. 10,1970 diagrammatically, a mold for prefabricating a wall element as shownin FIGS. 18;

FIGS. 11-15 are end views of different connector webs adapted to be usedwith the wall elements of the preceding figures;

FIG. 16 is an end view of a connector representing a further developmentof the member of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views, generally similar to FIGS.5-8, showing junctions between several wall elements;

FIGS. 19-21 are end views of other connecting members to be used withsuch wall elements;

FIG. 22 is a top view of an assembly including a plurality of wallelements and connecting members of the type shown in FIGS. 19-21;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are top views of still further connecting members;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 22, showing a modified assembly;

FIGS. 2629 are fragmentary perspective views of a variety of basemoldings to be used with the wall elements of preceding figures;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary perspective view of a top molding to be usedwith one of these wall elements;

FIG. 31 is a vertical cross-sectional view through part of a top moldingsimilar to that of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a portion of the molding of FIG. 31;

FIGS. 33-36 are fragmentary perspective views of uprights adapted to 'bejoined to the wall elements of earlier figures to serve as supportingposts for door or window frames;

FIGS. 37-39 are fragmentary perspective views of sealing strips adaptedto serve as bumpers for such door or window frames;

FIGS. 40 and 41 are horizontal sectional views of an assembly accordingto the invention including a door and a window, respectively;

FIG. 42 is a fragmentary perspective view of a complete assembly withwall element, base molding and top molding;

FIG. 43 is a view similar to FIG. 42, showing an assembly incorporatinga window frame;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the upper part of a further wallassembly with adjustable connector members; and

FIGS. 45 and 46 are end views, partly in section, of the assembly ofFIG. 44, illustrating two different positions thereof.

In FIGS. 1-3 I have shown a Wall element 1 of suitable cementitiousmaterial such as ordinary or microporous plaster, foamed concrete orfoamed plastic (e.g. as available under the name rigid Moltoprene). Thewall element is formed with a multiplicity of vertical channels 2 ofgenerally rectangular cross-section, the major sides of the profilebeing parallel to the broad faces of the element. The narrow end faces 3of the channel are semicylindrically concave and terminate in shoulders4 designed to constitute abutments for elongate connectors describedhereinafter. The channels may be longitudinally notched along theirtransverse plane of symmetry, as indicated at 5, to facilitate thecutting of the Wall element into two or more smaller sections eachbounded by at least one side face 6 which is recessed at 2a to a depthcorresponding to half the major dimension of the channel profile. Thelower and upper edges of the wall element may be fluted or ribbed asindicated at 7 and 8 in FIG. 3; a similar undulating formation may alsobe given to either or both lateral edges of the wall element as shown at6' in FIGS. 2. and 3. The wall element of FIG. 4 has a flat underside 7.

FIG. shows a wall element in the form of a cementitious body clad withouter layers 12, e.g. of metal or of plastic sheet material, held inposition by mortise-andtenon formations 11. According to FIG. 6, thebody of the element consists of two parallel plates 14 separated byvertical spacers 13, e.g. of metal, plastic or wood, in interlockingengagement therewith. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the plate body may haveouter layers of sheet material 16 forming dovetail-shaped verticalflutes 17, the channels 2 being lined by layers of similar sheetmaterial (e.g. aluminum).

In FIG. 9 I have shown a bracket 19 adapted to be mounted on the bracketof FIGS. 7 and 8, this element having a trapezoidal rib 19a fitting intoany of the flutes 17; the bracket can be maintained at a desiredelevation by suitable fastening means, eg nails or screws not shown.

MOLDING DEVICE (FIG. 10)

In FIG. 10 I have illustrated a device for prefabricating a wall element1 of the type described above. This device comprises a prismaticinjection or compression steel mold 100 having end walls 103 and 106.Mold 100 is subdivided into a multiplicity of transverse sections 105which are interconnectable by clamps or other fastening means and whosenumber may be varied to change the length of the element 104 moldedtherein. Elongate cores 101, forming rigid extensions of the pistons ofhydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 110, pass through cutouts in end walls103, 106 to form the voids 104:: of body 104 which correspond to thelongitudinal channels 2 of preceding figures. End plate 106 may be solidwith the group of cores 101 so as to be displaceable together with thesecores toward and away from stationary end plate 103,

the latter being removable from the mold 100 to facilitate theextraction of the finished plate 104. A frame 102,

slidable along rails 112, carries sprinklers 106 through which alubricant may be sprayed onto the cores 101 prior to their insertioninto the mold; the same sprinkler system can also be used to deposit anonadhering film of thermoplastic resin or the like on the cores 101 toform inner linings similar to those shown at 15 in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thelubricant or the coating material is delivered to the upper and lowersprinkler nozzles 106 from a reservoir 111.

CONNECTORS (FIGS. ll-25) In FIGS. 11-13 I have shown three elongatewebshaped members 20, 21, 22 fitting into the channels 2 of wall element1 in a manner best illustrated in FIGS. 42 and 43 described hereinafter.These connectors, differing from one another only by the presence orabsence of voids designed to reduce their weight, may consist of metal(eg. aluminum), glassfiber-reinforced plaster or synthetic resin.Advantageously, the end faces of their generally rectangularcross-Section are hollowed out in a manner complementary to that of thechannel end walls 3 (FIG. 2) so as to form ducts therewith toaccommodate electric wires, fluid conduits or other utility lines.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate modified connectors 23 and 24- whosecross-sections are partly rectangular, corresponding to half the lengthof the rectangular section of members 22, and are provided with reducedprojections 23', 24 positively engageable with complementary recesses ofone or more adjoining wall elements. Thus, I have shown in FIG. 17 threewall elements 1a, 1b and 1c of substantially identical construction,element 1a terminating in a laterally open half-channel 2a receiving theconnector 23 of FIG. 14 whose projection 23' fits between confrontingflutes 7 of adjoining end faces of wall elements 1b, 10 which are joinedin turn by a connector 20 of the type shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 18, thewall element 1a adjoins a wall element 1d perpendicular thereto, thelatter being of the type illustrated in FIG. 7 and having the tongue 24'of connector 20 received in one of its dovetail-shaped flutes 17.According to FIG. 16, a member 25 similar to member 21 has lateraltriangular recesses 25' to receive elastic clips 26, such as rubberstrips, which enter between a wall element 1e and a connecting post 33,FIG. 25, having confronting faces with flutes 7 accommodating the strips26; post 33 of FIG. 25, shown by itself in FIG. 23, is of T-shapedprofile and is seen to be connected by respective Web members 21 and 25to wall elements 1a and 10. FIG. 24 illustrates a similar upright 34adapted to serve as a corner post interconnecting two orthogonallyadjoining wall elements. Other connecting and corner posts are shown at30, 31, 32 in FIGS. l921; FIG. 22 illustrates how the two last mentionedposts can be assembled into a structure together with several wallelements 1.

FLOOR CONNECTIONS (FIGS. 26-29) In FIGS. 26 and 27 I have shown two basemoldings 40 and 41 with grooves 40', 41' designed to receive the lowerends of connector members or webs 20 25 as shown in FIGS. 11-16, thewidth B of either of these grooves being substantially equal to that ofthe connector members and of the channels 2. As illustrated in FIGS. 28and 29, the base molding may be made from two interfitting parts 42, 43,part 42 being downwardly concave and part 43 being upwardly concave sothat these parts together de fine a horizontal duct 45 adapted toreceive gas or water lines, electric cables and the like. The upper part42 has a groove 42 of width B accommodating the lower connector ends.Overhanging lips 42" of upper base part 42 form recesses 44 which canalso be used to conceal cables, fluid lines and so on. The moldings 40and 41 or the lower molding part 43 may be pasted, screwed or otherwisefastened to the floor of a room; parts 42 and 43 may be heldinterengaged by friction or, if desired, by adhesive bonding, pins orsimilar fastening means.

CEILING CONNECTIONS (FIGS. 3032) FIG. 30 shows a top molding having agroove 54 of the same width B as the grooves 40', 41' and 42 of thepreceding four figures. Since, to facilitate installation, it willgenerally be desirable to let the wall elements 1 terminate somewhatbelow the ceiling of the room, top molding 50 is elevated above theupper edge of the wall element (see FIG. 42), this upper edge beingoverlain by a cover plate 51 having apertures 55 which generallyregister with the channels 2 of the wall element and give clearance tothe connector webs 20, 21 etc. traversing these channels. The upper endsof the connector webs fit into the groove 54 and are flanked by twomasking strips 52 which depend from the molding 50 and from abutments52' bearing upon the corrugated upper surface 56 of cover plate 51.

In the modified construction of FIGS. 31 and 32, each side strip 52a hasan upwardly projecting flange 59 separated from the layeral edge ofmolding 50 and forming therewith a space 53 which may accommodatefluorescent lamps, wirings or other accessories. An undercut 57 near thebottom edge of panel 52a receives several leaf springs 58 whose freeends bear resiliently upon the corrugations 56 of plate 51. The spacebetween panel 52a and connector webs 22 may be used for pipes, cables orthe like as illustrated at 49. Depending on the actual height of theroom, connectors 22 of different length may be used with correspondingchanges in the height H of the side panels or strips 52a.

WINDOWS AND DOORS (FIGS. 334l) FIGS. 33-36 show a variety of uprights60, 67, 69, 70 to be used as door posts or frame members for doors orwindows. Each of these uprights has a vertical groove (FIG. 33) or 65'(FIG. 35) whose width B is the same as that of the channels 2 (FIG. 2)and whose depth T equals half the length of the channel profile. Upright60 of FIG. 33 has a fluted seating surface 64 adapted to engage a ribbedend face 8 of a wall element 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 40; lateralflanges 66 straddle the wall element 1. Longitudinal grooves 63 mayagain accommodate antenna wires, telephone cords etc. Further grooves 62are adapted to hold packing strips of the type shown at 71, 72 and 73 inFIGS. 37-39, these strips being made of rubber or other resilientmaterial and differing from one another by their profile. Thus I haveshown in FIG. 40 packing strips 71 serving as bumpers for a door frame74 which is swingably attached to one of two confronting posts 60 byhinges 75; other strips 72 on the opposite side of each post servemerely as fillers for the unused grooves 62. Profile member 73 may serveas a weather strip bearing upon a window pane 76 as illustrated in FIG.41.

Upright 67 of FIG. 34 differs from upright 60 of FIG. 33 by having acorrugated seating surface 68 adapted to contact a smooth end face 6(FIG. 2) or a similarly corrugated end face of a wall element 1 as shownin FIG. 41. Upright 69 (FIG. 35) is of reduced width, owing to toomission of the lateral flanges 66 of FIG. 33. Upright 70 (FIG. 36) isformed entirely of sheet metal and has a hollow profile.

ASSEMBLY (FIGS. 42-46) FIG. 42 shows an assembly consisting of the basemolding 40 of FIG. 26, a wall element 1 of the type illustrated in FIG.2, a top molding 50 with side panels 52 and cover plate 51 asillustrated in FIG. 30, and connector webs 22 (only one shown) passingthrough vertical channels 2 of element 1. Molding 50 may be pasted orotherwise fastened to the ceiling of a room and should, of course, beaccurately aligned with molding 40. The side panels 52 can be slid intoplace after the assembly is otherwise completed.

As shown in FIG. 43, two bars 67, 67 of the type illustrated in FIG. 35are joined together with a miter cut to form a frame for a window havingtwo parallel panes 76 as in FIG. 41, one of these panes being omitted inFIG. 43. A web member 22 joins the wall element 1 to post 67 whereas asecond, much shorter web member 22' fits into the groove 65 of member 67and connects it with an overlying wall portion 1' similar to element 1but of greatly reduced height; the bottom edge of the window may alsorest on such a wall portion through the intermediary of a frame memberidentical with member 67' and disposed symmetrically with referencethereto.

In FIGS. 44-46 I have shown means for varying the effective length of aconnector member to fit rooms of different height. Thus, the connector21 shown in these figures has a body receivable in a channel of a wallmember 1 or in two complementary half-channels of a pair of suchelements; web member 21 is formed with two longitudinal bores receivingrespective rods 80 which rise vertically beyond the upper edge of wallelement or elements 1 and carry a rectangular plate 82 forming anextension of the connector member. Plate 82 fits snugly inside groove 54of top molding 50. Retaining pins 81, passing through aligned holes inthe upper end of member 21 and of rods 80, are representative of avariety of means for indexing or immobilizing the rods and the plate 82at a selected elevation according to the distance between the floor Fand the ceiling C. FIG. 45 shows the assembled position; FIG. 46illustrates how the rods 80 may be retracted to enable a removal orrelocation of the wall structure, with end plate 82 left in place uponwithdrawal of the rods 80 therefrom.

I claim:

1. A wall assembly for partitioning a room having a floor and a ceiling,said assembly comprising:

(a) at least two juxtaposed wall elements having adjoining sidesprovided with aligned vertical grooves complementing each other to forma channel of generally rectangular cross-section, the major sides of therectangle being perpendicular to said adjoining sides, the minor sidesof the rectangle being substantially semi-cylindrically curved withconcavities facing each other;

(b) a base molding on said floor having a longitudinal groove of a widthsubstantially equal to that of said rectangle and aligned with the lowertermination of said channel, said wall elements resting on said basemolding above said groove;

(c) a top molding between said elements and said ceiling, said topmolding having a longitudinal groove of a width substantially equal tothat of said rectangle and aligned with the upper termination of saidchannel; and

(d) a web of generally rectangular cross-section matingly received insaid channel and projecting therefrom beyond said lower and upperterminations into engagements with the grooves of said base molding andsaid top molding, thereby securing said wall elements to each other andto said moldings, said web having hollowed narrow longitudinal facesconfronting the concavities of said minor sides to form vertical voidsfor accommodating utility lines alongside said web.

2. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said major sides havevertical shoulders abutting projecting edges of said hollow faces.

3. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall elements havea longitudinally grooved underside, said base molding having a profilecomplementary to that of said underside.

4. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said base moldingincludes an upwardly concave lower part and a downwardly concave upperpart separably engaging each other, said parts forming between them ahorizontal duct for utility lines.

5. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one wallelement has a vertical side and a further vertical channel laterallyopen onto said side, said further channel having a depth equal tosubstantially half the length of said rectangle.

6. A wall assembly as defined in claim 5, further comprising anotherwall element and a further web in said laterally open channel connectingsaid one wall element with said other wall element.

7. A wall assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein at least said otherwall element is provided with a vertical groove on a surface confrontingsaid laterally open channel, said further web engaging in thelast-mentioned groove.

8. A wall assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said last-mentionedgroove has a re-entrant cross-section, said further web having aprojecting tenon formation positively held in said vertical groove.

9. A wall assembly as defined in claim 5, further comprising a postadjoining said side of said one wall element and a further web partlyreceived in said laterally open channel, said further web engaging saidpost and connecting same with said one wall element.

10. A wall assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said post has avertical groove accommodating part of said further web and seatingsurfaces flanking the lastmentioned groove, said seating surfaces beingbounded by flanges embracing said one wall element.

11. A wall assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said seating surfacesand said side of said one wall element contact each other and areprovided with complementary vertical flutes and ribs.

12. A wall assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said post is providedwith an external longitudinal flute and with a sealing stripprojectingly received in said flute.

13. A wall assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said post is providedwith hinge means for supporting a swingable frame and with elongatevertical strip means of elastic material forming a sealing bumper forsaid frame.

14. A wall assembly as defined in claim 5, further comprising an uprightadjoining said side of said one wall element, said upright having onerib received in said laterally open channel and at least one other ribreceivable in a laterally open channel of a similar wall element.

15. A wall assembly as defined in claim 5, further comprising twoadditional wall elements adjoining each other in a plane perpendicularto said one wall element, said additional wall elements havingconfronting end surfaces formed with complementary vertical flutes, anan additional web in said further channel having a pro-- jecting tenonpositively received by said flutes, said additional wall elements beingformed beyond said flutes with confronting half-channels accommodating afurther web interconnecting said additional elements.

16. A wall assembly for partitioning a room having a floor and aceiling, said assembly comprising:

(a) at least one wall element rising from said floor and terminatingbelow said ceiling in an upper edge;

(b) a top molding on said ceiling spacedly overlying said upper edge,said top molding having a longitudinal groove paralleling said upperedge;

(e) bracing means extending upwardly from said upper edge while beingreceived in said groove;

(d) a plate resting on said upper edge, said plate being apertured toclear said bracing means; and

(e) a pair of vertically disposed masking strips sus pended from saidtop molding and straddling said wall element in the region of said upperedge, said masking strips being provided with internal abutments bearingelastically upon said plate.

17. A wall assembly for partitioning a room having a floor and aceiling, said assembly comprising:

(a) a plurality of juxtaposed upstanding wal elements rising from saidfloor and having adjoining sides provided with aligned vertical groovescomplementing each other to form a channel of generally rectangularcross-section, the major sides of the rectangle being perpendicular tosaid adjoining sides, the minor sides of the rectangle beingsubstantially semicylindrically curved with concavities facing eachother, said elements terminating below said ceiling in an upper edge;

(b) a web of generally rectangular cross-section receiving insaidchannel and projecting upwardly therefrom beyond said upper edge,said web having hollowed narrow longitudinal faces confronting theconcavities of said minor sides to form vertical voids for accommodatingutility lines alongside said web;

(0) a top molding .on said ceiling spacedly overlying said upper edge,said top molding having a longitudinal groove paralleling said upperedge and receiving an upper termination of said web with mating fit,said web thereby securing said elements to each other and to said topmolding; and

(d) a pair of vertically disposed masking strips suspended from said topmolding and straddling said wall elements in the region of said upperedge, thereby defining a laterally enclosed space between said upperedge and said ceiling, said wall elements being provided with additionalvertical channels communicating with said space to accommodate utilitylines.

18. A wall assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said web has a bodyin said channel and an adjustable upward extension in the groove of saidtop molding.

19. A wall assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein said upward extensionincludes at least one rod vertically slidable in said body and an endplate rigid with said rod, said end plate having an outlinesubstantially corresponding to the profile of said web, furthercomprising means for fixedly securing said rod in different positionswith reference to said body.

20. A wall assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said wall elementsare provided with sheet-material linings for said channels.

21. A wall assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said additionalchannels have the same generally rectangular cross-section as thechannel formed by said vertical grooves, the depth of the latter beingequal to substantially half the length of the rectangle.

22. A wall assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said channels areequispaced within said wall elements.

23. A wall assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said wall elementsare clad in outer layers of sheet material and are provided with outerflutes to accommodate external connectors, said sheet material liningsaid flutes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,995,477 3 /1935 Kotrbaty.2,058,372 10/1936 Venzie 52-220 2,061,633 11/1936 Muller 52-242 X2,119,586 6/1938 Kotrbaty 52-285 2,550,883 5/1951 St. Vincent. 2,301,80011/1942 Bersie 52-220 2,302,047 11/ 1942 Olsen 52-242 2,325,694 8/1943Marshall 52-241 2,787,812 4/1957 Long 52-586 X 3,072,226 1/1963 Harwood52-281 X 3,386,216 6/1968 Zwickert 52-242 X 3,416,275 12/1968 Loghem52-586 X FOREIGN PATENTS 166,686 1934 Switzerland.

1,429,954 1966 France.

JOHN F. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-220, 285, 586

